Experienced oil and gas industry executive Ken Fitzpatrick has been appointed Chair of the Advisory Board of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA), for a three-year term from 5 September 2020.

Resources, Water and Northern Australia Minister Keith Pitt said Mr Fitzpatrick has extensive experience in the oil and gas industry in Australia and overseas.

“Mr Fitzpatrick is ideally skilled to lead the NOPSEMA Board, possessing strong stakeholder engagement skills and a detailed knowledge of maritime and safety matters relating to the offshore petroleum industry,” Minister Pitt said.

Image of Mr Fitzpatrick, courtesy of the Office of the Hon Keith Pitt MP.

“The NOPSEMA Advisory Board has an important role to play in providing high-level policy and strategic advice on the safety and environmental management of offshore oil and gas activities.”

Over the past 30 years, Mr Fitzpatrick has held several senior industry roles, including Chief Executive Officer of PTTEP Australasia and senior roles at Ampolex, Mobil, Nexen and Woodside.

He has also served as Western Australia’s state chairman of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA). He is the current chair of the Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Growth Centre Board.

Minister Pitt said Mr Fitzpatrick’s appointment comes at an important time, with the offshore oil and gas industry facing challenging times due to the operating constraints presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He thanked former Chair Dr Erica Smyth for her significant contribution to the Board since 2016, and as Chair since March 2017.

“Dr Smyth’s experience in the minerals and petroleum industries, and with government regulation, enabled her to provide a considered and in-depth perspective on complex issues,” Minister Pitt said.

“I thank Dr Smyth for her leadership and the substantial contribution she made to the NOPSEMA Board.”

Under the provisions of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, the Board is established as a separate entity from NOPSEMA to provide advice and recommendations about operational policies and strategies to the Federal Minister for Resources, his state and territory equivalents and the CEO of NOPSEMA.